Vessel-unloading apparatus



o. SHBRWOOD.

2 VESSEL UNLOADING APPARATUS. A No. 274,983. Patented Apms 188s.'

UNITED f STATES PATENT OFFICE.

oRsAMUs sEEIiwooD, orV CLEVELAND, oHIo.

lVESSELQUNLOADING APPARATUS."

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,983, dated Aprile, Issa.`

Application filed February 20, 1,883. (No model.) l

.To all whom -it may concern Be it known that I, ORsAMUs SHERWooD, ofCleveland, in thecounty of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Unloading Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for the unloading of vessels; and it consists'of an adjustable trusstram way for conveying a truck carryinga bucket back and forth, and provided with a shaft at upper end of said tramway, having rope-drums and friction-clutch mechanism of peculiar construction, operated by suitable power and manipulated by an operator in such a manner that greatly facilitates the work ofy handling and unloading boats or vessels, the said mechanism being constructed, combined, and-operating as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation ot' my apparatus as seen in working order. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of truss and its support. Fig. 3 is a sectional view ofthe driving-shaft and its accompanying clutch and drum mechanism. Fig. 4 is a top or plan view of same. Fig.5 is apview of the tower-support ofthe trusstramway at its lower end.

A represents a dock for the storage of ores orooal. B represents a vessel lying at said dock, from which the load.` is being taken by my apparatus.

C is atower, made of timber, for supporting the end of the truss-tramway at the edge of the dock. It has a suitable base-frame, and is provided with rollers, by which it may be shifted for adjustment to suit varying circumstances. Intermediate between said dock-line and the powerV end of the tramway is made a lixed frame-work support, D, upon which an intermediate support, E, for said tramway rests,

and having rollers e, by which the tramway may be shifted for adjustment. At any required distance away from the said dock-line is built a permanent frame-work, F, for supporti ing the upper'end of the tramway, and is provided with the operating-shaft and its accompanying mechanism. The said frame-work F is made high enough to support the tramway '5o at a'sufticient height above the dock to allow for the deposit ot' large quantities of ore, and the said framework may be any required length along said dock, and carrying a long any required number of tramways to be connected with it, and it is roofed over for protection of themachiuery and thc operators. At

one end of said frame-work support Fis located a house, G, having an engine connected by belt H to a driving-pulley, I, on the shaft.

The `mechanism on the shaft I construct as follows:

i J J are metal disks, secured to the shaft S by set-screws s s, and have a deep iiange or rim,j, in which is 'secured a wooden disk, M.

NN are two drums or spools, made of metal, upon which the ropes or cord q q are wound in drawing the truck T back and forth. These drums are placed loosely on the shaft, so that the shaft may revolve without revolving them with it, except when required, and they are placed a sufcientdistance apart for the clutching-levers L L and their blocks to be attached.

O'is asmall block, secured tothe shaftS by set-screw, and P P are two similar blocks,

placed loosely on the shaft between said block 0 and the drums.

LLare two levers, having bevel sides,which lie between the blocks O and P P, being fnlerumed at their ends to a support at one side of the shaft, while their other ends are extended into the inclosure ofthe frame-work F in convenient position for handling by the operator. P are beveled also, so that pressing down on the levers crowds the blocks P against the ends of the drums, and this crowds the drums against the wooden disks, so the friction ofthe broad-faced wooden disk, bearing against the drum, causes said drum to revolve with them.

Thetrusses are made of two rails, RR,with out crossbars between them, but have a series of upright side posts, r r, connected by crossbars r2 part Way up and a cross-bar at their tops, the object being to leave the space between the rails It It unobstructed for the passage of the car or truck T and its suspended bucket Y. The trusses are strengthened by brace-irons m fr, and from the top of the tower guys e a are stretched to the central parts of the trusses, for steadying the tower and bracing the trusses. Hinged to lower end of lower truss is an arm or extensiomwhich reaches over the vessel to bring the truck and bucket over The sides of the said blocks IO and P- IOO thel1atcl`1way,and the extremity of said extension is provided with a wheel, over which the return-cord attached to the truck plays. A rope and sheaves are attached to outer end of said extension and top ofthe tower for the purpose otl raising said extension when desi red. The rope which draws the truck upward passes through a sheave in the truck, and also through a sheave with a hook holding the bucket. When the truck reaches the lowest point-on the tramway, the paying` out of the rope still further lets the bucket down into the hatchway ofthe vessel.

The operator manages this apparatus in a' ver57 easy and simple manner by means of the levers. To draw the truck upward the lever tothe right is pressed down. This clutches the drum and causes it to revolve,l drawing and windingl up the rope,while the other drum, be-v ing loose, allows the other rope to be unwound. To. return the truck the left-hand lever is pressed down andthe right-hand one released. Thusthereturn-ropedrawsthetruck back down Iagain'by the winding up on its drum, while the other, being loose, allows the rope` to unwind. rIhus by alternately clutching the drums the one draws on its rope whilelthe other pays it out, and vice versa.

A suitable brake, to be operated by the foot ofthe operator, is employed to prevent the too rapid unwinding ot' the rope from'the loose drum.

Having described my invention, I claiml. The metal disks J J, having the fixed wooden disks M M, the loose drums N N, fixed block O and loose blocks P P, and lever L L,

in combination with shaft S, as shown and described.

2. The truss-tramway consisting of the rails R R, upright posts 'r and cross-bars r2, brace iron rods fr x, and the traversingly adjustable support E, running on tixed support D, as shown and described.

3. The tower C, provided with rollers c C, for supporting the lower end of truss-tramway, and provided with lthe ropes and sheaves, in

combination with the hinged extension ofthe.

truss, as and for the purpose specified.

ORSAMUS SEER-WOOD. Witnesses:

GEO. W. TIBBiT'rs, M. G. NoR'roN. 

